Lyft nabs public Wi-Fi exec for New York policy role

New position for the ride-hail company that also owns Citi Bike

Lyft is getting help navigating the increasingly turbulent waters of New York politics.

The San Francisco based ride-hail giant will announce today that it has hired Jen Hensley, a familiar face among local power brokers, as the company’s first director of policy for New York City. The former executive director of the Association for a Better New York, Hensley was most recently president of LinkNYC, the public Wi-FI and outdoor advertising provider.

She will arrive in time for a City Council oversight hearing next week that will look at the adoption of new Taxi and Limousine Commission regulations that have forced both Uber and Lyft to make changes. The rules, aimed at cutting congestion in Manhattan and improving driver pay, include a recently renewed moratorium on new vehicle licenses and a minimum-wage regulation that compels companies to pay drivers more if their cars spend a lot of time cruising around empty.

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Lyft, the No. 2 ride-hail operator after Uber, has sometimes benefited from its rival’s missteps while cultivating an image as a friendlier company for both riders and drivers. But in the past year it has found itself on the ropes as it has struggled to respond to the new laws.

The company angered drivers this winter by suing the city—unsuccessfully—to block the minimum-wage rule. In June, Lyft began keeping drivers off its app unless they were working in areas of high demand. That, too, led to complaints from drivers, some of whom said the policy has been applied inconsistently.

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Lyft has said the city’s regulations have tied its hands and required it to switch gears to keep its business viable. Recently, Uber said it also would be altering its driver app in response to regulations.

"Lyft's commitment to improving transportation in New York City has never been stronger,” Hensley said in a statement. “I'm excited to join the company, partner with city leaders on strong public policy in New York, and work with legislators, regulators, drivers and riders to ensure Lyft provides the best solution for every New Yorker, no matter where they are going."

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